Best Truck GPS to Buy?

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by uspl1, Jan 15, 2012.

  1. juso78

    juso78 Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Apr 15, 2011
    0
    I have the rand mcnally and personally it sucks. The routes are sometimes screwed up. It will plan a route and send you in a big circle if you don't check the route details. Its not up to date with low clearances especially in PA and NY. When it does a recalculation during a route it doesn't always find the fastest way from the recalculated point. Rather it will try to get you back to the point were it recalculated.

    The updates are a joke. Most of the updates are to fix the previous updated bugs. So theres an update every other day. Rand mcnally seems to think we are they're test mules. They should do more testing before releasing an update.

    Some other problems that i have are screen freezes, highlighted route on screen disappears at times, when you go into sleep mode and come out the volume doesn't work have to hard reset to get it back, battery doesn't hold a charge, the mph reading dissappears another hard reset to fix, false warnings at certain locations throughout new england, and the list goes on.

    So I'm also looking for a new unit myself.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

    10,935
    4,212
    Sep 23, 2007
    Statesville, NC
    0
    Thanks,
    Mark
     
  4. juso78

    juso78 Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Apr 15, 2011
    0
    The whole reason any business that deals in software releases an update is to fix prior issues. Nothing new here. Updates do not come out every other day. Construction and POI's come out every two weeks and version updates come out once about every four months. What you are seeing is the TND Dock syncing to the main server and checking files and then your TND Dock syncing to the TND and verifying the files are the same as the server. Since you mentioned sleep mode, make sure you are on TND Dock version 2.0.8. as if you did not update the TND Dock from a prior version you may be pointing in the cloud wrong.

    Come on now. Just because every other company releases updates and releases another update to fix the previous update as normal protcol doesn't mean we should except it. Especially when the update screws something totally different in the system. There are plenty of companies/businesses that spend the time to fix the problem once. I'm sorry but I don't agree that we should just except it that way.



    I get an update on my computer pretty much every other day on the TND dock (version 2.0.8.) After updating I sync it all up.

    The sound going off in sleep mode is in the OS and not controlled by the software for the TND. In other models Rand turned off the Sleep mode in the OS to prevent this.

    So basically what your saying is that there is no Fix to this as it isn't a software problem? I just have to reboot it after going into sleep mode or just don't even go into sleep mode.



    What is your serial number off the back?

    Serial number is B 05 D7C 1701E2

    If your TND is not holding a charge, does it charge on AC or just a DC issue?

    If your battery is at the minimum and you are working off DC, then you will get screen freezes. If you have the 7", then your HD Screen is not getting enough current to stay alive due to your low battery charge.

    For the first week I had the unit it held fine. Then over time it just won't hold after all night charging from AC. Its always plugged in when i'm driving.

    Sometimes the MPH will not show if there is nothing in the Map Data for that segment and you just happend to boot it up.

    I'm not talking about the posted speed limit. I'm talking about your speed.
    It'll just disappear until I reboot it.

    False warnings - clarify?

    Palmer,MA Rt 20/32 there is no weight limit on that road.

    Owego,NY Rt 38 warning for low clearance. RT 96/38 has a low clearance posting for 12'7" between Fox St. and West Ave. But it isn't really 12 7 its a truck route through Owego. 13 6 has more than enough clearance. But it'll give a warning all the way up to and 1 mile past the 96 38 split.

    There were several other warning about weight but just can't remember right now. Sometimes it will route you to a actual low bridge. Example of one is a delivery to main st in Holden,MA. Started from Gardner,MA routed me to rt 68 to 122A.

    There are several other issues that I just can't think of right now
     
    Turtles Thanks this.
  5. Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

    10,935
    4,212
    Sep 23, 2007
    Statesville, NC
    0
    Thanks,
    Mark
     
  6. rocketeer

    rocketeer Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Jan 17, 2012
    0
    i need one for the sole purpose of which route to take from point a to point b,thats it. i dont need the thing to drive my truck ,and do my windows or watch out for road construction or traffic or to do my logs or any of that crap i been doing for years thats my job.
     
  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    19,720
    12,268
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    the rand mcnally sucked. no if's, and's or but's.

    my battery didn't hold either. it routed me the long way becuase it says the short ways aren't for trucks. yet it put me on streets that WEREN'T for trucks. after it took me into a residential neighborhood in scottsdale arizone. and had no clue how to get me out of there. it went back and i downgraded to the pcmiler.

    pcmiler is the second cheapest unit. doesn't have bells and whistles. but it routes me the same as truckmiles.com. it takes me from A to B and doesn't fool around.

    but it's not perfect either. 5 percent of the time i've actually had to use google nav on my cell phone to find my stop. with rand, my phone got used 3 times more then rand got used.

    the rand i had was the brand spanking new model that just rolled out. the 510 model.

    if you want the cheapest gps. copilot for trucks cost $150 and is made for cellphones. it's a full fledged software package downloaded to your phone. and doeosn't require internet to use it. the drawback is having your cellphone lit up the whole time your using it. tends to make the phone a little warm and eventually a break down. so you don't wan't to use it during the whole entire trip. for instamce. you're on a leg of your journey that is 200 miles long and no exits or turns you'll be doing.

    pcmiler cost $250 and is made by copilot. is a handheld unit and can be left on.
     
    Rogerthat Thanks this.
  8. Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

    10,935
    4,212
    Sep 23, 2007
    Statesville, NC
    0
    Thanks,
    Mark
     
  9. dude6710

    dude6710 Road Train Member

    2,162
    622
    Mar 26, 2010
    MN
    0
    I use the nuvi 465T, havent had too many problems with it. theres only 2 times where i found it said the weights were too much for the road and it wasnt.
     
  10. uspl1

    uspl1 Bobtail Member

    11
    1
    Oct 1, 2011
    0
  11. RTL

    RTL Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Jan 24, 2012
    Pa.
    0
    Thinking of buying GPS, I drive water truck for Fracking gas wells. We run a-lot of posted roads that are bonded for no trucks. Would I buy auto model or truck model? Also we run lease roads that are new, could I program in as I run them. Need help.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.